– Things are going well, but we are in a challenging situation. We have several cases of infection at the embassy, and are very concerned with taking the best possible care of our employees.
This is what Norway’s ambassador to India, Hans Jacob Frydenlund, who is currently in New Delhi, says.
At present, there are 24 people inside the embassy area, including family, he says.
Frydenlund himself came to India in the autumn of 2019. Since then, the pandemic has hit the country and its more than 1.3 billion inhabitants very hard, in several rounds.
AMBASSADOR: Norway’s ambassador to India, Hans Jacob Frydenlund, is in New Delhi, India. He says he is concerned about the situation in the country. Photo: Private
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Global top listing
The country has been particularly hard hit by the country’s second corona wave. Hospitals are overcrowded, there is a shortage of oxygen and the Indian Ministry of Health has this week reported over 3,000 corona deaths daily.
On Saturday, the country registered over 400,000 new infected people in the last 24 hours, according to official figures. This is the first time a country has registered so many cases in one day.
19.1 million Indians have so far been diagnosed with coronary heart disease, and on Saturday the authorities state that the official death toll is now 211,853.
At the same time, many crematoria and burial grounds in India say that the official corona death rates are nowhere near reflecting the increase in the number of deaths they actually receive.
COMPETITIVE RECORD: On Saturday, India registered over 400,000 new infections in the last 24 hours, according to official figures. This is the first time a country has registered so many cases in one day. Photo: Adnan Abidi / reuters / NTB
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– Gets harder
Frydenlund at the Norwegian embassy says that they are affected by the fact that so many of their Indian partners are infected and strongly affected by the situation.
– In addition, we are working intensively to put Norwegian aid to India in place in the difficult situation, he says.
– How do you think the next few months will be?
– They’re getting harder. But the Indians are making an enormous effort to help each other through the crisis, and Norway will also contribute what we can, together with the rest of the international community.t.
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– The capacity has exploded
Frydenlund tells Dagbladet that they have an ongoing dialogue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the situation for the employees at the embassy. He says that in principle there are no Norwegian tourists in the country, given that travel has been discouraged for a year.
– But there are of course some Norwegians here, mostly people who have family in India. We have contact with those who contact the embassy, he says.
– How would you describe the situation in Dehli now?
– The situation is very serious. The infection is very high, and the capacity of the hospitals has exploded. People try their best to take care of themselves and their families.
Frydenlund continues:
– At the same time, I am impressed with how thousands of Indians work voluntarily to help those who are infected. They set up telephone exchanges and organize food and transport for people who need help.
UNREGISTERED DEATHS: Many crematoria and burial grounds in India say the official figures do not come close to reflecting the increase in the number of deaths they receive. Photo: Altaf Qadri / AP / NTB
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Curfew
– Are you scared?
– We are privileged to live in an embassy area where it is possible to try to isolate yourself from infection. But I am worried about both employees, colleagues and friends.
In New Delhi, there has been a curfew for a week and a half, the ambassador says.
– People stay inside, but many still have to go out because they are first-line workers, or need to seek health care for themselves or their families.
– Is it possible to keep two meters away and wash hands?
– My impression is that many take infection control very seriously. Indian authorities have also been clear about encouraging the use of masks, and it has been mandatory to wear a mask in public spaces since last year. But of course there are many who live cramped and do not have the opportunity to maintain social distance and good hygiene.
– How precarious is the situation?
– The most difficult thing now, especially in the big cities, is that so many have become seriously ill at the same time. It puts a lot of pressure on the health system, and there is a lack of hospital beds and oxygen.
Fear of new mutants
Moved home
Kristine Anvik Leach worked as Managing Director for Jotun in Mumbai, India for 3.5 years, where she was the manager of over 400 employees. At the end of February this year, she moved home to Norway and Larvik. She says she went home because her mission in Mumbai was then over.
Her thoughts now go to all those she knows who are still in the country.
– There is a lot of worry, and I send a lot of “angry good news”, such as: “Now you have to stay home”, she says to Dagbladet.
JOB IN INDIA: Kristine Anvik Leach worked as Managing Director for Jotun in Mumbai, India for 3.5 years, where she was the manager of over 400 employees. At the end of February this year, she moved home to Norway and Larvik. Photo: Private
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She says that she has both friends who got out of the country this week, just before the borders closed, and friends who are still left.
– These are people who have more or less been in a lockdown for a year, as a result of an absolutely enormous infection pressure, she says.
– What do those you know there say about the situation now?
– There is a lot of fear, and the fear only gets bigger. Many of those I know have good health insurance, but what good is it when there is neither oxygen nor beds available? Then money or insurance will not help at all.
– Those I know stay inside, but often there are many in the same household. In India, people like to live with both parents and grandparents. Thus, there will be many close contacts, Anvik Leach continues.
WHO: A “perfect storm” is to blame
– Fire in dry grass
– Around 350,000 cases of infection are now registered daily. Is it possible to take the seriousness of these figures?
– No, it’s difficult. To me, India is so huge. Here at home, I try to tell my family about how India abounds with wonderful elements such as colors, tastes, smells – and people. That is what usually makes India so exciting. There is a human density there that you can not imagine if you have not been there yourself. But this, combined with covid-19, causes the virus to spread like wildfire.
When the pandemic hit India last year, she wanted to stay in the country, but in April 2020, she and her family were put on an evacuation flight to Norway from a closed airport. During the year, however, she decided to return and complete the work for Jotun in Mumbai.
From August to December she was there alone, without her family. She went home on a short Christmas vacation before returning and stayed there until her contract expired in February this year.
– Throughout the period, we made sure that all employees were safe and that the factory was kept running. We created procedures to keep our distance and introduced regular temperature checks, says Anvik Leach and adds:
– There was always an assessment between keeping people safe and keeping the business going.
India is out driving
Norwegian assistance
On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide said that Norway is giving NOK 20 million in humanitarian aid to India due to the pandemic.
She informs NRK that the money will go through the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Red Cross.
The support will, among other things, contribute to ambulance services with oxygen, information campaigns to promote infection control, hygiene packages, infection control equipment and food – in addition to the operation of operations centers.
– The corona virus does not relate to borders, the virus and new mutations spread quickly across national borders and continents. That we succeed in fighting the pandemic globally is also crucial for the infection situation in Norway, says Eriksen Søreide in a press release.
– The virus “swallows” people
Stricter entry rules
All travel to five countries is now discouraged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs due to the dramatic increase in infection in India. From now on, all unnecessary travel is discouraged.
– The situation in India and the other countries we tighten the travel advice to, is very worrying. For the sake of the individual’s safety, the risk of import infection to Norway and not to burden the countries’ health care further, we advise against all travel there, says Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide (H) in a press release.
The Foreign Service adds that they have little or no opportunity to provide consular assistance to Norwegian citizens in these countries.
On Wednesday, the government also introduced an order for quarantine hotels for all travelers from these five countries. The measure will take effect at 12 noon on Wednesday.
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